Kyoto Protocol Is the New Low-Waste Cocktail Bar Pop-Up from the Belles Crew

At Belle's Hot Chicken, Christian Robertson and Morgan McGlone have made a hero of natural wine, just as much as of their beloved spicy fried chook. But that less-is-more, organic-focused philosophy that's so big in the wine world, had yet to sneak its way into the rest of the pair's booze program. That is, until now.

Dreamed up on a recent jaunt to Japan, McGlone and Robertson's latest venture is Kyoto Protocol — a pop-up cocktail bar concept named after the city where their idea was hatched. "It's built on the idea that we could have a natural wine approach to a cocktail program," explains Belles Beverage Director Robertson.

Debuting at this year's Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, the bar puts a fresh spin on the whole cocktail caper, showcasing four of what the boys call "lo-fi" drinks. They're easy to make, easy to enjoy and crafted on organic ingredients, with no unnatural additives and minimal garnishes.

Operating out of a repurposed shipping container at MFWF's House of Food and Wine, Kyoto Protocol will be slinging all four concoctions from March 9 to 11. Clocking in at an easy $12 a pop, you'll find creations such as the Basic B, which blends vodka, organic yuzu from NSW, Japanese yuzu soda, cold-pressed watermelon and a cucumber syrup. Another, dubbed the Hentai, mixes peach bitters, Hennessy and a peach iced tea, made to a recipe McGlone picked up over in Nashville.

Backing the stronger stuff, there'll be a hefty selection of natural wine, as the boys raid their extensive, long-built cellar collection. Expect a good 100 bottles featured across the weekend, with plenty of hard-to-find options and a solid range on offer by the glass. "They're bottles that people don't get the opportunity to taste very often," hints Robertson.

Sticking with the natural approach, the bar will be using only 100 percent wheat straws and biodegradable cups. What's more, all those used cups will be collected and displayed throughout the pop-up, to help keep customers mindful about another important impact of their boozing. The final haul of waste will be recycled and repurposed into something useful — think, a park bench, rail sleepers, or plastic bricks — by the legends at Closed Loop.

Kyoto Protocol will be popping up alongside a slew of food stalls and masterclasses from some of Australia's — and the world's — best chefs. You'll be able to down the lo-fi cocktails alongside eats by Belles, Sundae School, Mamasita and more. Day passes to the House of Food and Wine start from $65 and can be purchased here.

Find Kyoto Protocol at Melbourne Food and Wine Festival's House of Food and Wine at The Coopers Malthouse Theatre, Southbank, from March 9–11, 2019. 

Images: Parker Blain and Daniel Mahon.